Brazil's Hulk celebrates a goal, but it is another part of his anatomy that is the focus of female fans' attention. Photograph: Antonio Scorza/AFP/Getty Images

This article is part of the Guardian's World Cup 2014 Experts' Network, a co-operation between 32 of the best media organisations from the countries who have qualified for the finals in Brazil. theguardian.com is running previews from four countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 12 June.

David Luiz, Chelsea to PSG

The man is a pool shark. Tales of Stephen Hendryesque clearances on the table that occupies a prime spot in the Chelsea defender's Putney flat are well known among fellow Brazilplayers. Legend has it that the Tottenham midfielder Sandro is one of Luiz's favourite victims. "And he never lets anybody forget when he wins, the banter is almost cruel," says Sandro.

Neymar,Barcelona

There will be those pointing out that Brazil these days play more often, and against less robust opponents, than a few decades ago, but Neymar's scoring rate is impressive. In March his first hat-trick for Brazil came against a limping South Africa, but it also ensured he reached 30 goals in 47 games – faster than Lionel Messi for Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal (74 and 86 respectively).

Maxwell, Paris St-Germain

A left-back whose composed style won Luiz Felipe Scolari's preference as a more conservative alternative to the rampant Marcelo, the PSG man is better known in Brazil for his collection of silverware in different countries. The 32-year-old won titles at Ajax, Barcelona and Internazionale before moving to France. At all four clubs he played alongside his friend Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Hulk, Zenit Saint Petersburg

Neymar is the man who makes teenage girls shriek when Brazil play on home soil, but Brazilian women lust after Hulk. More specifically his buttocks. The Zenit player, whose shyness makes capturing his voice a challenge even for the most powerful microphone, has surprisingly accepted all the jokes and even did some jigs for the public in a TV appearance last year.

Carlos Alberto Parreira

A World Cup-winning manager, Brazil's assistant is also a decent painter. He has taken part in three exhibitions and his paintings have been kindly received by critics. A Monet fan, Parreira once knowingly spent a small fortune on a fake oil by the French master. "I knew it was a fake, but I am in love with impressionism and the copy looked quite good."

Fernando Duarte: Luiz Felipe Scolari has made the hosts harder to beat, but they will rely heavily on the creativity of Oscar and Neymar, and the solidity of Thiago Silva and Chelsea’s David Luiz at the back

Daniel Blumrosen Juárez: 'The Brush' has already swept aside Brazil in an Olympic final, and his goals for clubs and country have seen him fulfil his early promise that saw him labelled the 'Mexican Ronaldo'